Second Chances

Chapter 1

The thick, dark, choking, suffocating smell of smoke entered Laura Spencer’s nostrils, filling them and literally throwing her out of her hard-earned sleep, after a long night of dealing with a hyper five year old girl, little Leslie Lu.

Laura’s pure blue eyes flew open, in a panic. She saw nothing; no smoke and no fire. But, the room felt thicker and...somehow wrong. She glanced at the digital readout on the clock lying on her nightstand; it was nearly two in the morning.

Still unsure of why she thought a fire had invaded her home, Laura’s first thought was of Lulu. She pulled herself out from under her light comforter, and made her way around the darkened house and to her daughter’s room.

Opening the door, Laura finally saw the flames. A small corner of her daughter’s room was burning, turning to ash through brilliant bursts of reddish flames.

Pale, struggling to breathe, she made her way to the child’s bedside. Leslie Lu pointedly ignored her mother’s approach in her sleep, sighing slightly as she shifted,looking like a little angel all arranged in her bed.

Laura ignored her child’s attempt at sleep. One of her children had already fallen victim to a fire, she would not lose another! She poked her daughter, prodded her until Leslie Lu’s eyes flew open.

“Mommy?” her voice broke the silence, concerned and yet thick with sleep.

“It’s a fire.” Laura answered, weakly. “Get up, and let’s leave.”

Leslie Lu’s dark eyes set on her mother, her face shining white in the moonlight streaming through the window behind her. “Fire?” she asked, sleepy confusion in her eyes.

Laura pointed towards the flaming corner of Leslie Lu’s room, as the flames began to slowly climb towards Lulu’s bed and the door. “That fire. Now, hurry.”

Leslie Lu answered with extreme calmness, as she looked in the exact spot where Laura had pointed. “There’s no fire, Mommy.” she informed Laura, slowly.

“What are you talking about?” Laura countered, not seeing any need in playing a game. “Can’t you see it?”

“There’s no fire.” Leslie Lu repeated, turning to her mother.

Laura flipped the light switch, to show her daughter that there really was a fire. But,   it took her a second to refocus once the light flooded her eyes. And, in that second something changed. Laura blinked a few times, and then focused once more on the corner.

There was no fire. There was no smoke, no flame no ash - nothing. Nothing had happened.

Laura’s eyes darted around the room one last time, before reaching Leslie Lu. “Is it okay, Mommy?” the little girl asked, gently.

Laura nodded, slowly. “I’m sorry, darling. It must’ve been a bad dream. Go back to sleep.”

Leslie Lu curled back underneath her quilt, and was soon asleep. Laura flipped the light back off, and made her way back to her darkened bedroom, on two wobbly and unsteady legs.

She curled up underneath her comforter once more, pale and uncertain, her breathing a little labored. She did not know what had just transpired; why she had thought she smelt smoke and felt the heat of flames in her daughter’s room.

But, she did know she was not going to fall asleep again, tonight.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Laura did eventually fall asleep,regardless of her belief that she would not sleep ever again. She slept deeply, with no bad dreams and no signs of what had happened earlier. As a matter of fact, it almost seemed as if nothing had happened.

She awoke on time the next morning, slightly uncertain. But, she smelled no smoke and she saw no flames - so she got up, and went about her business. By late morning, Laura had dismissed the whole episode of the night before, believing it to have been simply a short continuation of a nightmare that she couldn’t recall from the night before. It was nothing more.

But, that next night, it happened again. Only this time, she thought she saw the flames mounting in her son’s old room. Yet again, when she flipped the light switch of the room and blinked a few times, she saw nothing. It was as if the fire had simply evaporated out of the room, leaving Laura to stand there a moment, growing more uncertain of her sanity by the hour.

And, it kept happening. Every night, Laura would awake to the smell of smoke, but there was never a single fire, not even a spark. However, now, she was beginning to dream, too, after the episodes - dark dreams that were haunted; ominous things that either foretold or remembered death and left her breathless.

Finally, a full week had passed since this whole thing had started. Laura awoke early in the morning. Outside, the sun was shining and bird were singing under a perfect clear blue sky. But, it might as well have been a thunder storm for all it did to lift her spirits. In the last week, she had begun to lose her footing, uncertain of what was happening in her. She was becoming very frightened.

But, whether or not Laura felt like just hiding under her covers, time did not wait for her. So, she got dressed and woke up Leslie Lu for kindergarten. Then, she made her way to the bathroom, still trembling ever so slightly.

She flipped on the overhead lighting, and looked at herself. Laura was a little surprised by what she saw; she actually looked wrecked. Her face was white, her eyes were bloodshot and her hair looked like a rat’s nest. Still unsure, Laura went to work.

Twenty minutes later, Laura had brushed her teeth and combed her hair and applied all of her makeup. She still looked pale and frightened. She still was pale and frightened.

But, Laura knew she had to get Leslie Lu to school. If nothing else, she had a responsibility as a mother to do that. So, she ignored the strange looks that Lulu kept shooting her mother, and got her daughter into the classroom.

Once she knew her daughter was safe, Laura walked around town for hours, aimlessly; without a set purpose. Finally, she reached the docks, and took a seat on a deserted bench. She had to stop, and think.

What was happening to her? Why was she suddenly dreaming of death, and seeing fire consume her children’s rooms? Laura wish she knew what had broke in her to cause this. She was afraid that she might have a real spell.

She didn’t know what had happened in her; what was wrong with her. But, all she wanted to do was hide in somebody’s arms and make that feeling go away. Her eyes drifted to the water, and up towards Spoon Island.

And, suddenly, Laura knew she needed to see Stefan. She didn’t know why, but she thought seeing him might help her.

So, she called for the launch and waited for it on the docks, feeling as if she might know what was wrong in a moment or two.

Second Chances

Chapter 2

Meanwhile, Stefan Cassadine was trying to deal with that mercenary team over the phone. He had hired them to rescue Lucky Spencer, right after he had returned to Port Charles after discovering Lucky’s whereabouts. As a matter of fact, he had hoped to have the boy back by now.

But, somehow, Helena had caught on and moved Lucky before Stefan’d had a chance to finish. And, to make matters worse - Stefan knew Luke suspected. He had caught Spencer walking around the grounds of the now uninhabited house in Nova Scotia, talking to Mrs. Felecia Scorpio. He had specifically complained about Stefan to Felecia, threatening him if he had harmed one hair on Lucky’s head.

So, he was dealing with more than simply eluding Helena at this point. He had only returned to PC last night, after a week of trying to deal with damage control overseas.   He would probably have to leave again in the next night, but he didn’t want to until he had at least checked in with Laura. It was nearly a year since the fire, and he wished to make certain that she was okay.

As he put down the phone, Mrs. Lansbury approached the door of his study. “Mrs. Spencer, sir?”

Stefan nodded. “Let her in.”

A second later, the door opened and Laura walked in. As always, Stefan’s eyes were drawn to her. But, something was different this time. Her hair was still golden, her figure was still perfect - it was nothing physical. But, her face was a shade paler and her brilliant blue eyes were frightened and darting.

All of it caused him to give pause and turn all of his attention to her. He didn’t even stop to greet her; he was too concerned. “Laura, what’s wrong?”

A ghost of a smile hovered around her lips, but refused to show itself. “I haven’t seen you in a week. That’s it, Stefan. Nothing is wrong.” she tried to assure him.

He didn’t fall for it, not in the least. He knew her too well; he knew every inch of her being. And, he knew when something was really wrong. This was one of those times. “Something is wrong. Please, tell me.” he told her, his eyes on her.

She wouldn’t look at him. “What makes you think anything is wrong?” she asked, her eyes drawn to the hem of her skirt.

He entreated her to look into his eyes, hoping she trusted him enough to tell him what was wrong. Eventually, their eyes locked. He hadn’t seen her so frightened in ages, not since he had first seen her on the island. “Laura, it is obvious something happened. I can see it in your eyes.” he answered. “I can’t help you unless you tell me what it was.”

Whatever had happened was really hurting her. “I don’t know if I can tell you.” she  finally answered.

“I would hope that, after all that I have tried to show you, you would know.” he answered, gently. “You can tell me anything, Laura.”

Laura could see the pure light in his brown eyes. She knew he loved her, and was obviously concerned for her. But, she didn’t want to sound unstable to him. It took her another moment to finally decide that she must tell him what she had seen over the last week.

But, she had to start slowly. “ I woke up late one night, about a week ago, thinking I smelled smoke.”

He was watching her very closely, now. “Really?”

She nodded. “My first thought was to go to Lulu’s room. I saw flames, and I woke her up. But, she didn’t see anything.” Laura’s voice sounded young and frightened, as she relived that night. “So, I flipped the light switch, to show her. When I had refocused, I didn’t see any fire, either.”

Her eyes raised to his once more, searching for disbelief. All she saw was concern.

Stefan waited a second, making sure she had finished, before he responded. “You thought there was a fire, but there wasn’t. Right?”

She nodded, again. “I don’t really know what happened.”

He paused. “Is that it?”

She responded, slowly. “No.” she struggled to get it out. “It’s been reoccurring. And, I’ve started to have these dreams, too...” she searched his eyes again. “I don’t know what it is, but I’m starting to get really scared.”

Stefan stood and made his way to her, wanting to comfort her. In the next second, he had her in his arms. She, eventually, stopped trembling, warmed by his arms. “Thank you.” she whispered.

He held her close. “It’s nothing.” And, then, he sat back beside her and fell silent, uncertain of what he should do next. He understood that something had broke in her, perhaps because it was getting so close to the anniversary of Lucky’s “death”. Stefan was now beginning to wonder more than usual - should he tell her that Lucky was, indeed, alive?

“Stefan,” she called softly, attempting to pull him out of his revere. He raised his eyes to see her, to look into the deep blue of her own expression and perhaps see what he should do. Because, in all honesty, he was stuck.  Should he confide that, even now, he was struggling to get her son free from Helena’s web? Or, perhaps that was the wrong choice. If they didn’t get her son out in time, could it possibly send her spiraling further?

He really wasn’t sure if he should tell her or not. He didn’t know which thing might help her, and which could damage her further.

But, finally, for once in Stefan’s whole life, he decided to throw caution to the wind.  He didn’t want it to possibly destroy Laura if they did not rescue Lucky. But, Stefan was also hoping that it wouldn’t come to that. And, even in the rare chance that it did...he would rather help her cross that bridge when they reached it, then watch her reach physiologically destruction for something that hadn’t really happened.

He decided to tell her.

Second Chances

Chapter 3

Stefan’s eyes had fallen to his lap, once more they rose to meet her. He saw the panic still reflected in her eyes. But, now she seemed slightly concerned for him as well.

“Laura,” he started, softly. He hoped she wouldn’t be mad that he had lied to her for so long; that she would understand he was really trying to do the right thing.

She was looking into his eyes, and she saw the resolution in them. “You’ve decided something...” she trailed off. She regarded him, calmer but still curiously. “What is it, Stefan? Do you know what’s happened to me?”

“No,” he paused, still searching her expression. “But, I think I have some information that might help you.”

Intrigue was suddenly apparent. “What?”

He tried to get right into it. “You recall those business trips I’ve been taking into Nova Scotia, how I told you I had this thing that might be the end of Helena?”

“Of course.”

“I’m sorry I could not tell you what it was. I didn’t want to risk you being hurt by it.  But, I believe I should tell you, now.”

“I don’t quite understand.” she admitted, slowly.


“Trust me, Laura. I think it might help.”

“Of course I trust you, Stefan. What is it?”

The best thing was, of course, to tell Laura straight out. Stefan just wished he could coax it out of himself a lot easier than he actually could. “Mother has been keeping someone hostage for close to a year, now. I just discovered it a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve been trying to get the hostage out, since.”

Her eyes searched his for something that would tell her he was making this all up.   Seeing no such reassurance in his face, she turned completely white. “Ohmigod. I almost didn’t believe you, but I can see.... My God.” she spoke almost frantically.  “Stefan, do you know who it is?”

He nodded, and when he responded, his eyes were locked onto her’s. “It’s Lucky.” he told Laura.

And, then he waited with very little patience, hoping her response would be at least relatively pleasant.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

At the mention of her son’s name, Laura had become completely and almost reverently still. It took her a full second to comprehend what Stefan had told her. And, when she finally understood, she was more than skeptical.

“What are you saying, Stefan?”

“Mother was working with a man named Cesar Faison.” he admitted, speaking calmly in hopes that she would grasp what he had to tell her with utter clarity. She watched him very closely.

He continued, seeing the recognition towards Cesar Faison’s name in her eyes, but unable to see why. “I don’t know why he did it, only that they hate the Spencer name.  But, he staged the fire in Lucky’s apartment building, and kidnapped your son.”

She still didn’t believe him, though she also didn’t believe he would lie about anything like this. When she responded, her voice was that of a lost, and yet hopeful, child. “What makes you think this?”

“I was curious about the way Mother had been; I had this feeling she knew something. I asked Luke about it,”

“Luke?” she interrupted, suddenly quite surprised. Stefan would not have asked Luke for help unless it was vitally important.

“He didn’t tell me anything.” Stefan answered. “I decided to approach Helena’s  man servant... Andreas. And, after some careful prodding, he told me that Mother had been traveling to Nova Scotia.”

“The business trips.” she whispered.

He nodded. “When I got there, I found a house...a compound, almost, if you counted the guards. I found my mother inside one of the main buildings, talking to someone.   But, the recipient of my mother’s speech had his back to the window, so I couldn’t tell who he was.” he paused, searching her eyes, yet again, hoping she was beginning to understand.

“Please, Stefan.” her eyes pleaded.

“Helena eventually left the room, and came around the front. I hid, hoping she would betray herself to the guard. She did, when she told him that she believed Lucky was progressing well.”

She was regarding him without skepticism. “You’re telling the truth, aren’t you?”

“Laura, I would never lie about something so major.” he responded.

Like the dawn, suddenly, there was a golden light in Laura’s eyes. She was more than happy; she was simply ecstatic with the understanding that her little boy was alive.   To Stefan, she simply beamed radiance. “My son is alive.” she whispered, finally believing him.

And, then she suddenly turned to see Stefan, and the light in her eyes glowed less.   “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

He answered in truth, or at least what he thought was the truth. Stefan was unaware that he may have been, at least partially, lying to himself about his reasons. “If I couldn’t succeed, I didn’t want you to go through all that pain again.” and, then he began to realize what Alexis had told him. “And, I suppose that, at least partially, I wanted to be the hero and bring him to you.” he was dying to get the words out, but it was hard. “I thought I was doing the right thing.” he explained. “But, when you told me what had happened, I thought this would help.” A beat. “Has it?”

“All those trips to Nova Scotia...you were trying to get him out?”

“I haven’t succeeded, as of yet. Mother moved him. I know where; I just haven’t been able to get to him, yet.”

“Oh.” she suddenly recalled something. “Luke called me, saying he was dealing with Helena. I told him where you had been going...” she trailed off. “I’m sorry.”

“Is that how he discovered it?” Stefan responded, mostly to himself. He really did not care that Laura had told...she couldn’t possibly have known what he was doing.

Finally, he asked her the question that had entered his mind when he had decided to admit to her what he knew. “Are you mad, Laura?”

She turned back towards him, questioningly. “Why would I be?”

“I lied to you. I promised I wouldn’t, and then I did.”

She shook her head. Her eyes were still glowing with that golden radiance. “You found out that my son was alive, and you’ve been trying to save him. You probably should have told me earlier, but I cannot be mad with you when I know you were trying to do the right thing.” she paused. “Can we save my son?”

He was happy to know that they were okay. He was more happy for her to say ‘we’, than run to Luke with the information. And, so he answered her.

“I certainly hope so. I have been trying to get him out.” he told her. “She moved him to Spring Lake...”

“That is very close to here.” she said, softly, with growing excitement and a buzz entering her voice.

“It is.” he agreed. “I’ve hired a mercenary team,” he started.

She interrupted. “Wouldn’t that give away what you know?”

“Helena knows that she must guard him for he is valuable to her, though I have yet to discover why she went to all the trouble. I couldn’t go in there, by myself, and take them all out.”

“I’m sure you’re right. But, couldn’t it warn her if you made a wrong move?”

“I will not make a wrong move.” he told her, certainty in his voice and in his eyes. “I doubt you would allow me.”

“True.” she agreed. She was watching him, completely enthralled. Laura was no longer afraid of whether her sanity would stay intact or not; if her son was truly alive, as she knew he was, she knew she would no longer see flaming deaths - because there hadn’t been one in the first place. “What is your plan, Stefan?”

“It is truly uncomplicated.” he answered. “Run in, grab Lucky, and run out.”

Laura burst out laughing. “All of that work for that ? That doesn’t sound very careful, or meticulous - it reminds me more of Luke.”

He was smiling, too, now, for he had been able to tell her all that he really knew - and she didn’t want to run to Luke with the information. She wanted to be with him, even if his reasons for wanting to save Lucky weren’t 100% perfect. He teased her. “You shouldn’t compare me to Luke, Lasha. It is very dangerous ground to tread.”

“Oh, you know me, Stefan - I am truly fearless.”

“That I will readily agree with.” he paused, growing serious once more. “I wanted to be there when they got him out. But, now that I’ve thought of it, Lucky would probably react better to being rescued by his mother, right?”

“I would think he’d just be happy to be rescued, regardless of who did it. But, I would like to be there.”

“You need not ask for permission, Laura.”

“I wasn’t.” she informed him. That golden light in her eyes was simply radiant, and Stefan simply wanted to draw her into his arms, and bring her to his lips. But, unfortunately, he couldn’t afford it at the moment.

Her mind was, of course, still on Lucky. “Does anyone else know?”

He ducked her gaze, but only briefly. Her eyes drew him to her. “Alexis.” he admitted.

“Why in the universe would you tell Alexis before me?” Laura couldn’t help but ask.

“I want to put Helena in her place. Specifically, I wanted Alexis to make sure the police force didn’t let go of Helena, yet again, once we have gotten her into their hands.  I asked her to approach it from a legal standpoint.”

“She agreed?”

Stefan shrugged. “She wants to rid the world of Helena as much as I do. But, if you do wonder about it, she also did try to get me to tell you about Lucky as soon as I knew.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Laura answered. “But, is that the only reason she is helping you?”

“In all honesty, I really do not know.” Stefan answered, honesty reflecting deeply in his voice.

“Well, we can cover that later. Can we rescue my son now?”

His smile was gentle. “You have to give me time. At least allow me to get the team   together.”

She was impatient. She was completely full of energy, of love for him and her son.   And, to Stefan’s mind’s eye, at this very moment, Laura looked exactly like the girl he had fallen in love with on the island. But, she was calling his attention to her, and Stefan discovered that he had missed whatever it was she had said.

“What did you say, Laura?”

“I asked you how long it would take to ready the team.” she answered.

“A couple of hours, possibly. It depends how fast I can get hold of the leader.”

“Well, then, call him.” she said, gesturing to the phone that sat on his desk. The impatience was growing in her voice. Now that Laura believed her son was alive, she wanted to see him again; to hold her little boy once again- even if he would be 18 in a few months.

When Laura had believed her son was dead, she had been frantic. She had worried what everyone worries when a loved one is dying or dead, or even as good as dead - had she told him how much she loved him; how proud she had been? Had he known exactly what he meant to her, as her son? And, now, that Laura had been given a second chance with him - she didn’t want to throw a single moment of it away.

Not one.

So, she practically pushed Stefan towards the phone, and watched him call up the team, her excitement growing with her impatience. By tonight, with any luck, Lucky would be home again.

She did not see the storm brooding on the horizon.

Second Chances

Chapter 4

Stefan, after a few choice words to a few choice men, was thankfully able to assemble the team and get them moving. They reached the camp at Spring Lake late that night, and Laura was thrilled.

But, not half as thrilled as when she saw her son stand in a window, and look in her general direction.

She wanted to go directly with the team, but Stefan hastily pulled her back. “It would be too dangerous, Laura.” and, once he saw the protest in her eyes, he continued. “For his sake as well as your own.” Stefan spoke with honesty.

However, Laura wasn’t one to simply sit back. She continued to protest from inside the car. “Stefan, please. If Helena were going to kill my son, wouldn’t she have already?”

“And, if she feels threatened and has the time to react, she will strike.” Stefan answered. “I know my mother, Laura.” he paused. “You have waited a year to touch him again; surely you can wait one more moment?”

She finally nodded, and settled back in the seat. Stefan gave his men one last set of instructions, and sent them out. Then, he helped her out of the seat, deciding to sit back in the car and wait. Lucky would need to see Laura - not him.

Meanwhile, Laura stepped out into the nighttime wilderness. Above, the sky was lighted with a thousand stars. But, the stars were diminished by the vibrant white light of the full moon, which shone above her and lighted the path towards the camp. Laura’s eyes trailed along the moonlit path, and then rose towards a window that faced the outside.

And, in that window, fully accentuated by the shimmering light, Laura Spencer saw her son for the first time in a year.

“Lucky,” she whispered, as silently as possible. His eyes were searching past her, towards that unreal and unpenetrated midnight sky. It was as if her son was nothing more than an illusion brought out into the moonlight by Laura’s feverent eyes. And, if she made a noise, he would be gone.

But, the sound of some automatic weapon quickly broke that silence.

And, as the smell of gun smoke whiffed into the air, Lucky disappeared out of view.

Then, chaos bore it’s fifteen minutes of fame. The sound of footsteps trampling could be heard from every general direction, as Stefan’s men literally flew from the cabin. Laura quickened her pace, and made her way back to the car door. There, she waited.

Finally, the guardsmen reached her. And, as the made the way back into a van that was parked behind Stefan’s car, they left Lucky standing in front of Laura.

His hair was slightly longer than usual; his skin a shade paler. But, behind those lengths of brown bangs, his blue eyes were still brilliant. He was Laura’s son; finally her little boy had been returned to her.

She pulled him into a hug. “Lucky,” she whispered, every emotion of pain and joy reflecting in that one whispered word.


Laura then noticed that Lucky was struggling to get out of her grasp. His eyes were   frightened and confused; lost and rather uncertain. In his whole silent expression, for Lucky had yet to speak one word, there wasn’t even the slightest hint of recognition.

Laura, stunned, let him go. And, Lucky retreated two steps back, still staring at her with that same confused look. He appraised her up and down, and then finally spoke.

“I’m sorry.” he paused. “Do I know you?”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

And, in that next second, Laura’s heart broke. But, she refused to believe that Lucky did not know her. He had to know her; he was her son, after all, and a bond such as that could not be broken by one year of absence. Or, could it?

Laura’s answer was soft, her voice wavering. “I am your mother.” she answered him, hoping the light would shine from his eyes once more.

But, his eyes remained dark. “No,” he answered her, conviction in his voice. “You can’t be my mother. I don’t know you.”

Still, hope sprang eternal. Laura could not have gotten her son back for him to not recall her. Certainly, the gods weren’t that cruel. She changed tactics. “Luke will be so happy to see you.”

Evidentially, the gods were that cruel. For Lucky’s eyes narrowed at Luke’s name.  “My father,” he stated, slowly.

“Oh, so you do know him?” Laura responded, hoping the look she saw in Lucky’s eyes did not mean what she thought it meant. What had Helena done to him - or been doing? “You’ll be happy to see him, I’m certain.”

Lucky’s answer came out very hard. “Why in the world would I be?”

Laura stared at him mutely for a moment. Then, she spoke, again ignoring his last comment. “We all thought you were dead. Faison had a fire started in your apartment, and he left a body...Everyone was devastated. And, though Luke knows you’re alive, I’m certain he'll be much happier to see you in person.” she paused. “Everyone’s missed you...Liz...Lulu...Nikolas.”

There was the briefest flicker of knowledge when Laura mentioned Stefan’s son, but other than that, Lucky showed no signs that he knew that Lulu was his little sister, or that Liz was his true love.

It was as if he had never existed for her; as if he truly was that figment of imagination that Laura had found in the window.

Laura wasn’t in a hurry. Helena wouldn’t be around for a little longer. She had one  more shot, and so she tried one more tactic. “What do you know about your father?”

He was briefly silent, as if debating whether to answer her or not. Finally, he did. “I know he isn’t worth a millisecond of my time.”

Laura spoke shortly. “Wait right here, please.” she made her way around to the driver’s side of the car, and tapped at the window.

Stefan opened it, and regarded her with brief curiosity. All of the color had drained from Laura’s face, and her eyes were strangely shimmering. Something had gone wrong. “What happened?”

“He doesn’t know me.” Laura answered, in a heart-breaking whisper that was still, somehow, filled with a sense of astonishment.

Unfortunately, Stefan did not have time at the moment to deal with this new problem.   He had to work quickly. “Laura, please try to keep yourself together. We have to get out of this as quick as we possibly can.”

She nodded, mutely.

Stefan continued. “Do you think he’ll come in the car?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so. He’s been completely polite, but if he thought we were taking him from his home...”

The next words Stefan had to ask were painful for him to even think about, let alone speak. “Could you drug him, Laura?”

She was aghast. “Stefan, I could never...”

“If you can’t, he will stay.”

She pondered his words for a moment, and then finally nodded. “I suppose it is the lesser of two evils.”

“Laura, I’m sorry.” he told her, truthfully, as he gave her the needle.

“I know you are.” she told him, and walked away.

Quickly, trying not to think that she was drugging her own son, she surprised him from behind and did drug him. She got him settled into the backseat, and after that brought herself into the passenger seat. Stefan drove away from Spring Lake in silence, knowing she needed that silence. She watched the lake disappear from view.

And, only then was she able to lose herself in noiseless tears.

Chapters 5-8

Second Chances
Index